story by Lindsay King
“This sport is never not worth it to me, even if a run goes badly I always walk out with more knowledge,” said Ashlynn Green, a high school barrel racer from Choctaw, Oklahoma. “There is always something you can work on to get better, you will never have a perfect pattern. And that is why we go pro.” That is exactly what the 16-year-old barrel racer intends to do. “I want to start pursuing a career in the BBR and maybe qualify for a bigger event like the American. Setting myself up for one of those events is my goal, to gain experience.”
Armed with an unquenchable passion for horses, Ashlynn also aspires to become a veterinarian. Her specialty? Horses, of course. “I have a big heart for horses and diagnosing their problems. I never get tired of seeing them heal and get better so they can compete to the best of their ability.” Like any true Oklahoman, Ashlynn wants to take the Oklahoma State University route to becoming a veterinarian. The Choctaw High School junior dedicates herself to her schoolwork, but everything else is honed in on rodeo.
Ashlynn is the only child of Chris and Ashley’s who has pursued rodeo and horses. Reagan, 14, and Case, 3, have not shown interest in it like she does. “I got a mare named Lilly when I was 10 and then I went to a few rodeos a couple years later. I just fell in love with barrel racing,” Ashlynn explained as she relived the thrill of inspiration she got from watching other barrel racers. It’s the support from her family that keeps her pursuing knowledge and excellence inside and out of the arena. “Anytime I am frustrated or having a hard time with my horse they can sit me down and help me set a game plan for improving my next run. We are all still learning as we go, but they support me wholeheartedly.” Typically, Ashlynn’s grandparents will haul her to rodeos because “they have the truck and trailer.” Her favorite part of competing in the OHSRA has everything to do with family. “I love how involved families are in this sport, it is all family based. You either have a friend or family member helping you out, I have never seen anybody compete alone. It is always a group effort and I really admire that.”
The longest and most memorial trip Ashlynn and her family have made was to Perry, Georgia, for the NBHA youth world finals in 2017. “I made the final round on my 7-year-old gelding, my newest horse. Making it to the finals was huge for me, it was the biggest event I had ever been to. We knocked a barrel in the finals but we still got a finalist buckle.” At the 2017 Choctaw Roundup Club IPRA rodeo, Ashlynn’s gelding proved himself again. “It had rained a lot so the mud was really deep. We didn’t run fast but we learned a lot. We went out there and got the job done, my gelding took care of me and that just made me even more thankful for him.”
Garnering fresh knowledge about horses and barrels started coming a bit easier when Ashlynn started working with Dona Kay Rule. “She is a great role model and helps me with anything. From issues with the pattern or just life advice, she is always there for me.” Of all the lessons Ashlynn has learned, the one sticking with her for every run is about letting her horse do its job. “I tend to jockey too much and underestimate our ability as a team. We can’t do this on our own, I have to let my horse do his job just like I should be doing my own.”
